1947-48 Williamsport Billies (EPBL)

1947-48 WILLIAMSPORT BILLIES
EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
9-18, .333, 7th place

Coach Hal Poust

New to the league, the Billis started off decently, splitting their first 10 games. Unfortunately, they would only win 4 of their remaining 17 games to finish a distant 7th place. Ray Kodish would lead the team in scoring with 377 points (17.1 PPG)

Head Coach:

• Hal Poust (March 14, 1906 - November 23, 1962) 

PLAYERS:

Bernie Bobst (May 25, 1926 - April 30, 1986)

Bob Brenner (March 2, 1923 - November 11, 2013)

Ollie Byers (October 24, 1916 - July 26, 2004)

Paul Coront (July 4, 1921 - February 26, 1994)

Larry Disque (March 27, 1921 - March 3, 1994)

Rocco English (January 30, 1919 - September 14, 2017)

Frank Frascella (July 28, 1922 - December 10, 2014)

Earl Hafner (July 29, 1921 - March 15, 1988)

Ray Kodish (June 10, 1923 - March 14, 2012)

Don Manno (May 4, 1915 - March 11, 1995)

Wes Myers

Fran McGrath (November 29, 1926 - September 21, 2014)

Wes Myers (December 21, 1927 - February 1, 2002)

Emil Piestrak (December 19, 1918 - June 7, 2011)

Frank Sebest (September 24, 1923 - November 28, 2010)

Andy Sember (July 6, 1923 - April 17. 2007)

Perk Stabley (January 24, 1925 - September 25, 1994)

Tom Sweeney (October 15, 1922 - June 27, 2017)

Joey Thomas (November 12, 1919 - November 24, 1997)

Jack Walsh (November 11, 1920 - May 9, 1976)

1947-48 Sunbury Mercuries (EPBL)

1947-48 SUNBURY MERCURIES

Coach Auten

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
13-15, .464, 5th place

First year in the league, the Mercuries won their first two games if the season, including an opening night victory over eventual champions Reading. They would float around the .500 mark for the entire season, never winning more than two in a row and never being more than 2 games within the .500 mark on either side. Johnny Rusinko would score 398 points in the season for an average of 14.2 PPG. 

Head Coach:

• Johnny Auten (April 26, 1903 - September 22, 1981) 

PLAYERS:

Wade Ackley (June 8, 1919 - January 24, 2007)

Paul Chadick (May 25, 1918 - December 28, 1999)

Jack Colberg (February 4, 1924 - December 17, 2013)

Lou Decsi (February 9, 1923 - November 19, 2018)

George Deitrick (November 27, 1917 - April 21, 1996)

Nick Dietterick (May 22, 1921 - May 16, 2014)

Jackie Goepfert (May 24, 1932 - May 1, 2002)

Dave Hornstein (August 16, 1922 - September 25, 1997)

Jesse Mair (January 9, 1919 - June 19, 2003)

Cliff Maunder (June 6, 1920 - March 9, 2006)

Fran McGrath (November 29, 1926 - September 21, 2014)

Charlie Prosser (July 15, 1916 - August 5, 1961)

John Rusinko (March 1, 1925 - October 23, 2013)

Johnny Shadle (December 26, 1919 - May 4, 1999)

Andy Siket (December 29, 1918 - September 19, 1995)

Johnny Simmons (July 7, 1924 - August 1, 2008)

Andy Skvoretz (October 29, 1924 - July 12, 1988)

Kermit Smith (February 2, 1926 - August 23, 2005)

Red Wallace (July 12, 1918 - July 7, 1977)

Jack Watson (November 6, 1918 - August 2, 1974)

1947-48 Reading Keys (EPBL)

1947-48 READING KEYS

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
19-9 .679, 2nd place

Lost to Pottsville in one-game playoff for regular-season championship

Semi-finals: Defeated Lancaster, 2-1

Finals: Defeated Hazleton, 2-1

With very little resemblance to last years bluc, including a new coach in Stan Schwiemler, the improved Reading Keys added talented players like Russ Guensch and Joe Lord, complemented by Dewey Boltz and Billy Budd. They would possession of first place in late December and  held it through January. Entering the final month of the season, they would win 8 of their final 11 but that was still not enough to keep Pottsville from catching them in the final days of the season.

Wrapping up the season with a 19-9 record that was identical to the Packers, the two teams would meet in a one-game playoff to determine the regular season champions. Played in neutral Hazleton, Reading would fall to Pottsville, 60-57. 

Three days later, the Eastern League semi-finals began, with Reading stunned by a ten-point defeat at Lancaster in the series opener. The club rallied to beat Lancaster in the next two games on their home court to salt away the series victory. Facing Hazleton in the finals, Reading once again stumbled on the series opener on the road 61-53. However, just like the semis, the Keys bounced back to win the next two games at home to claim the Eastern League championship, two games to one.

Head Coach:

• Stan Schweimler (October 15, 1897 - March 6 , 1974)

PLAYERS:

Dewey Boltz (May 18, 1920 - September 18, 2015)

Bill Budd (January 24, 1921 - July 31, 2016)

Jimmy Bunn (September 2, 1923 - January 22, 2009)

Norm Butz (September 28, 1919 - March 21, 1999)

George Dracha (August 18, 1921 - April 6, 1995)

Johnny Dracha (July 20, 1927 - January 13, 2008)

George Dries (June 9, 1926 - August 1, 1991)

Russ Guensch (January 12, 1924 - June 14, 2014)

Kenny Hopkins (November 2, 1919 - June 12, 2015)

Joe Lord (December 28, 1922 - December 1986)

Jack McGaffney (April 1, 1924 - February 3, 2020)

Chin Rhoads (September 11, 1918 - April 1, 2007)

Bob Rothenberger (May 4, 1918 - April 2, 1994)

Woozy Smith (January 13, 1915 - June 3, 1971)

1947-48 Pottsville Packers (EPBL)

1947-48 POTTSVILLE PACKERS

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
19-9, .259, 1st place
Defeated Reading in one-game playoff for regular-season championship

Semi-finals: Lost to Hazleton, 2-1

Taking over from the defunct franchise that moved to Pottsville from Binghamton during the previous season, this iteration of Pottsville's team was coached by George Syby.  After a mediocre start of 6-6, the tPackers caught fire, winning four straight. They would then win 3 of their next six before winning the last six games of the regular season and catching Reading to tie for first place. A one-game playoff game against Reading was scheduled to determine the regular season champion, and Pottsville snuck off with a 60-57 win. 

The Pack headed in to the playoffs with a seven-game winning streak and 9 of the last ten, and beat Hazleton on the road in the opener of their best-of-three game series. However, Pottsville would drop both games at home to lose the series in three games.

The Packers were lead this season by Bill McClure, who averaged 11.1 PPG, and Jack Flannery with 10.9 PPG.Player/coach Syby would finish fourth on the team in scoring, behind Joe Doherty.

Head Coach:

• George Syby (November 26, 1915 - December 27, 2000)  Also played.  See below

PLAYERS:

Hank Baietti (October 1, 1920 - June 26, 2006)

Alfy Burch (November 2, 1928 - September 1, 2000)

Eddie Deitch (December 1, 1910 - June 20, 1997)

Joe Dougherty 

Jack Flannery (December 7, 1925 - January 22, 2007)

Jack Harvey (March 10, 1928 - August 30, 2006)

Joe Kelly (November 27, 1924 - August 27, 2009)

Bill McClure (December 21, 1927 - September 7, 2001)

Bob Morris (February 17, 1913 - June 1, 1985)

Dan Murphy  

Al Palatella 

Ossie Prokopic (December 21, 1919 - March 19, 2010)

Bogey Rosenberger (July 12, 1923 - October 26, 2000)

Woozy Smith (January 13, 1915 - June 3, 1971)

George Syby (November 26, 1915 - December 27, 2000)

Vince Verdeschi (March 24, 1925 - August 16, 1965)

Al Yanushonis (June 20, 1927 - February 27, 2014)

Pete Yousaitis (September 10, 1917 - December 23, 1995)

1947-48 Philadelphia Lumberjacks (EPBL)

1947-48 PHILADELPHIA LUMBERJACKS
EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA

8-20, .286, 8th place

The Eastern League got its first franchise in the state' largest city, Philadelphia, for the second season of its existence. Being a hotbed of basketball for two decades, much was expected from the Lumberjacks. Coached by Skeets Fiorella, who would later operate his father's sausage company with his sons, the Lumberjacks started off admirably enough, winning 8 of their first 15 games. However, they hit the skids on January 25 when they began a 13-game losing streak to finish the season. They plummeted to last place and the franchise would fold shortly after the season.

Head Coach:

• Lou "Skeets" Fiorella (May 30, 1922 - January 29, 2008) 
  

PLAYERS:

Billy Chappell 

Sidney Chilnick (June 19, 1922 - August 1, 1965)

Zack Clayton (April 17, 1918 - November 20, 1997)

Milt Cohen (August 12, 1926 - November 8, 1999)

Jim Coughlin (August 18, 1919 - March 27, 1969)

Tony Derago (October 11, 1928 - March 21, 2006)

Dick DeWees (March 18, 1929 - July 19, 1986)

Jim Furey (March 28, 1928 - February 20, 1985)

Ken or Jim McAndrews  

Rocco Parisi (October 27, 1923 - February 8, 2015)

Pepper Petrella (May 7, 1920 - December 21, 1991)

Max Siani (Ju;y 2, 1919 - February 26, 1988)

Frank Washington (April 4, 1921 - January 24, 2013)

1947-48 Lancaster Red Roses (EPBL)

1947-48 LANCASTER RED ROSES

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
14-14 .500, 4th place

Semi-finals: Lost to Reading, 2-1

Lancaster started the 1947-48 season in the American Basketball League. After starting 1-5, they dropped for the ABL and returned to the Eastern League December 3. Coming back from a season that saw them be the runner-up to the crown, the Red Roses had high aspirations but could not put together the hot streak they needed to compete.  Never being more than two games over .500 or one game under, they finished the season at 14-14 and a fourth place finish. They would lose in the first round of the playoffs.

 

Head Coaches:

• Woody Sponaugle (September 24, 1915 -  April 30, 1967)
  

PLAYERS:

Tommy Bell (September 11, 1922 - December 17, 1949)

Hen Burger (November 18, 1922 - July 25, 2009)

Norm Butz (September 28, 1919 - March 21, 1999)

Jim DiGiacomo (b. December 19, 1928)

George Ehemann (September 11, 1918 - July 10, 1991)

Walt Funk (October 13, 1922 - January 13, 2015)

Steve Juenger (February 10, 1915 - November 18, 2003)

Bud Long (February 10, 1924 - January 9, 2009)

Don Markward (April 2, 1919 - June 14, 1985)

Ed Masterson (January 24, 1923 - May 21, 1991)

Jack McCloskey (September 19, 1925 - June 1, 2017)

Ken McKee (June 7, 1926 - June 19, 1950)

John Murphy (September 13, 1924 - January 29, 2003)

Tom O'Connell (November 10, 1923 - February 5, 2011)

Fred Sheffield (November 5, 1923 - December 8, 2009)

Stan Waxman (May 20, 1922 - February 22, 2013)

Pete Yousaitis (September 10, 1917 - December 23, 1995)

Bill Zubic (August 7, 1918 - July 24, 1994)

1947-48 Hazleton Mountaineers (EPBL)

1947-48 HAZLETON MOUNTAINEERS
EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA

18-10 .643, 3rd place

Semi-finals: Defeated Pottsville, 2-1

Finals: Lost to Reading, 1-2

Looking to improve on the past season, Hazleton started the season with a 44-36 loss at Harrisburg. Head coach Frank Serany immediately released almost his entire roster, letting go of Tommy Gorman, Hal Korovin, John Kostic, Billy Letcher, and Eddie McCluskey and bringing back Rookie Brown and Pete Yousaitis as well as signing a new batch of players like Bink Manning and Moon Mullen. It still took a little while for the new-look lineup to pick things up, only winning 3 games at the end of calendar year 1947. But after that 3-5 start, Hazleton would go 6-2 in both January and February and win 9 of eleven before losing the season finale at Pottsville. They entered the playoffs and defeated those same Pottsville Packers in a hard-fought best of three that went all three games. In the championship against Reading, Hazleton defeated Reading, 61-53, in the opener at home, but would lose games 2 and 3 on the road, ending the season as the runner-up. 

Head Coach:

• Frank Serany (May 4, 1911 - April 27, 1982) Also played. See below

PLAYERS:

Tommy Bell (September 11, 1922 - December 17, 1949)

William "Rookie" Brown - (February 15, 1925 - May 22, 1971)

Joe Chepulis (July 26, 1917 - June 25, 2009)

Tommy Gorman (March 16, 1919 - August 11, 1986)

Bernie Griggs (October 1, 1977 - June 27, 2001)

Louis Hilf (March 24, 1920 - May 27, 2002)

Hal Korovin (April 19, 1925 - June 5, 2021)

John Kostic (April 5, 1926 - October 17, 2011)

Billy Letcher (February 10, 1929 - October 21, 2010)

Bink Manning (August 29, 1920 - April 7, 1986)

Johnny Mascavage (January 14, 1918 - April 12, 1990)

Eddie McCluskey (January 29, 1926 - March 2, 2016)

Moon Mullen 

Fred Paine (December 7, 1925 - October 26, 2004)

Emil Piestrak (December 19, 1918 - June 7, 2011)

Ossie Prokopic (December 21, 1919 - March 19, 2010)

Gene Resnick (December 26, 1924 - December 13, 2019)

Pete Schneider (June 29, 1919 - September 22, 1996)

Frank Serany (May 4, 1911 - April 27, 1982)

Leroy Watley (March 11, 1925 - January 15, 1996)

Pete Yousaitis (September 10, 1917 - December 23, 1995)

1947-48 Harrisburg Senators (EPBL)

1947-48 HARRISBURG SENATORS
EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
11-16, .407, 6th place

The Harrisburg Senators joined the league this season, with Barney Goldberg as player / head coach and lead by Fran and Vinny Bock, Sid Roche and former Penn State star Herb Currie. After stunning Hazleton in their opener, the Senators would then drop their next six games before Goldberg was fired and released and replaced by Duke Maronic, an offensive lineman for the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles. Only Joe Cackovic, the Steelton HS star who j9ined the team in their fourth game, and Roche, survived the coaching change. A new and revamped Harrisburg won 3 of their first 5 under Maronic, but the team's fortunes did not change enough to claim a playoff spot. Cackovic averaged 17.9 PPG and Jimmy Hernjak would average 10.6.  They finished 11-16, good enough for sixth place.

Head Coaches:

• Barney Goldberg (October 14, 1921 - December 12, 2011)  1-6 Also played. See below
• Duke Maronic (October 19, 1918 - November 13, 2009) 10-10 

PLAYERS:

Franny Bock (September 29, 1921 - October 2, 2006)

Vic Bock (August 31, 1920 - September 3, 1951)

Joe Cackovic (February 21, 1923 - December 16, 1984)

Herb Currie (April 23, 1921 - June 18, 2005)

Harry DeFrank (January 27, 1926 - June 26, 2007)

Danny Ernst (b. November 22, 1922)

Dick Giles (November 22, 1923 - November 1, 1984)

Barney Goldberg (October 14, 1921 - December 12, 2011)

Frankie Haas (June 1, 1926 - April 16, 2015)

Stretch Hall (June 23, 1926 - December 10, 1989)

Art Heffner (December 12, 1916 - August 12, 2010)

Jimmy Hernjak (June 10, 1927 - December 27, 1980)

Albie Kitch (December 31, 1915 - March 14, 1980)

Sid Roche (May 16, 1926 - January 21, 2010)

Don Schuerholz (August 28, 1922 - May 2, 2009)

Wilson Schuerholz (December 13, 1920 - September 3, 1997)

Andy Siket (December 29, 1918 - September 19, 1995)

Vince Smith (August 20, 1922 - January 17, 2019)

Mike Yovic (July 23, 1923 - July 19, 2001)

1947-48 EPBL

The Eastern Penn League went into it second season with 8 teams. The Pottsville Maroons (aka Pros) and Allentown Rockets disbanded, and the Wilkes-Barre Barons left the league to join the ABL, which was no longer a top-tier league but more of a feeder league for the BAA.  The Harrisburg Senators joined the league EPBL as did a different Pottsville club known as the Packers. The largest city in the state, Philadelphia, would also be represented by the Lumberjacks. Also joining the league were the Sunbury Mercuries and the Williamsport Billies.

The season commences on November 30, 1947, and with the exception of the Senators, the league was tightly bunched at the end of the calendar year, with only three games separating first place from seventh. Once the new year began, Reading began to pull away and enjoyed a three-game cushion in early February, but late charges from Pottsville and Hazleton brought the regular season to an exciting climax. The Packers won their last six games and 13 of their last 16 to catch Reading on the final weekend of the season with both clubs sporting a 19-9 record. The Mountaineers had a 9-1 stretch and lost to Pottsville in the season finale, keeping them just one game back at 18-10. Lancaster grabbed the 4th playoff spot, and on March 16, 1948, Pottsville defeated Reading, 60-52, in a playoff game that served to determine the regular season champion.

The playoffs began On March 18, with Pottsville facing Hazleton, followed the next day with Reading and Lancaster. Pottsville  won the hard-fought opener against Hazleton, but the Mountaineers came back to win the next two and steal the series from the regular-season champions. Meanwhile, Lancaster stunned Reading with an opening-game victory, but would drop the next two to allow the Keys to win. 

Reading was  to face Hazleton in the best-of-three series to determine the champion. As was the case with the semi-final series, the team that won the opener wound up losing the series. After falling, 61-53, to Hazleton, Reading would rebound to win the second and third game, and therefore the championship of the league for the 1947-48 season.

• Harrisburg Senators
• Hazleton Mountaineers
• Lancaster Red Roses
• Philadelphia Lumberjacks
• Pottsville Packers
• Reading Keys
• Sunbury Mercuries
• Williamsport Billies